Apparatus for supporting and protecting a vessel during transport

ABSTRACT

A support for stabilizing a pressurized LP tank in an upright position during transport and storage. The support comprises an extended flat body with a central opening in its top surface for mating engagement with a base portion on the bottom of the LP tank. The extended body provides an extended support to prevent tipping of the tank. Preferably the support will also include a friction enhanced bottom surface to prevent sliding of the support and tank during transport. The support is preferably made from a thermoplastic elastomer.

This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/634,247, filed Dec. 8, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for supporting and protecting a vessel during transport, and more specifically, to an apparatus for supporting and protecting propane and water tanks.

BACKGROUND

Pressurized liquid propane (LP) tanks are widely used to provide a fuel supply to gas grills, campers, propane heaters, and the like. A generally standard design for these tanks includes an outlet and valve at the top of the tank. A base is generally provided on the bottom of the tank to support the tank.

Typically the tanks have a circular cross section. Transporting the tanks can be cumbersome. If laid on their side, the tanks are predisposed to rolling because of the round perimeter. When set upright on their base, they are prone to tipping, especially during starting, stopping, and going around comers. The tanks can also be easily tipped over during storage if they are bumped. Also, if the tanks are used in remote areas, such as for tailgaters and the like, they can be prone to being bumped or jostled during use, which can be dangerous.

Similarly, many people transport drinking water in larger tanks or bottles. Typically, these water containers will have an upper neck portion with a cap and a relatively larger bottom portion for supporting the water container when not in use. In use, the containers are typically inverted and the cap is either removed or pierced to provide water to a dispenser. When the water is used, the container is removed from the dispenser, and may be returned for refilling and reuse. Therefore these tanks must be transported back and forth. Like the LP tanks described above, these water containers can be prone to tipping and rolling, especially during transport.

What is needed is a simple, affordable apparatus for stabilizing vessels, such as LP tanks and water containers during transportation and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A support for stabilizing a vessel includes a generally flat body that extends outward beyond the outside perimeter of a vessel. An aperture is provided in the body for mating engagement with a base of the vessel. Preferably the stabilizer is formed from a single piece of injection molded rubberized plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support according to the present invention in use supporting a tank;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a support according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away elevation view of a support and pressurized tank according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an embodiment of a tank according to the present invention with a pressurized tank in place and supported by the web, with a portion of the web cut-away for illustration purposes;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a support according to the present invention that includes a square aperture; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another alternative embodiment of a support according to the present invention that has a circular perimeter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Shown generally in the drawings is a support 10 for use in supporting a vessel 12, such as a storage tank, or especially an LP tank. The support 10 is useful for supporting and stabilizing the storage tank 12 in an upright position. The support 10 is especially useful for supporting the tank 12 during transportation of the tank 12, or when the tank 12 is stored in a location where it might get bumped or jostled.

FIG. 1 shows a support 10 according to the present invention supporting an LP storage tank 12 on a generally flat upward facing surface 16. The flat surface 16 could be the bottom of a cargo area or trunk of a sport utility vehicle, car, van, or the like if the tank is loaded for transport. The flat surface 16 could be a floor, pavement, ground, or other stationary surface if the tank 12 is being stored or used. The flat surface acts as a resting surface 16 on which the support 10 and tank 12 set. There is sufficient friction between the bottom surface 18 (not shown in FIG. 1) of the support 10 and the resting surface 16 to significantly resist sliding of the tank 12 and support 10 across the cargo area during typical starting, stopping, and turning maneuvers. The support 10 also provides a sufficiently wide base to significantly resist tipping of the tank 12 and support 10 during typical starting, stopping, and turning maneuvers, or if jostled or bumped.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a support 10 according to the present invention. The support 10 includes a generally flat extended body 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the preferred shape of the body 20 is an octagon. An opening 22 is provided in the center of the body 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the opening 22 passes completely through the body 20 from a top surface 24 to the bottom surface 18; however, it is not necessary for the opening 22 to extend all the way to the bottom surface 18. The top surface of the body may be provided with a marking 21, such as a logo, trademark, use instructions, or team name. The marking 21 may be formed by screen printing, or may be molded into the surface.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the support 10 of FIG. 2. The opening 22 preferably is slightly smaller in diameter than the base portion 26 of the tank 12 it will support, in order to create a friction fit between the base portion 26 and the sides of the opening 22. The preferred dimension for the opening 22 is approximately eight inches in diameter in order to accommodate the base portion 26 of a standard LP storage tank 12. The overall width “w” of the support 10 of this preferred embodiment is approximately twice the diameter “d” of the opening 22. According to a preferred embodiment, the opening 22 has a diameter d of about eight inches and the support body 20 has a width w of about sixteen inches.

FIG. 4 illustrates a storage tank 12 above a support 10, which is shown in a cut-away view. The storage tank 12 includes a base portion 26 that is used to support the tank 12. Most commonly, this base portion forms a circular cylinder on the bottom of the tank 12. In order to attach the tank 12 to the support 10, the base portion 26 is inserted into the opening 22, as shown in FIG. 5. Though not shown in FIG. 4, the top edge 28 of the opening 22 may be beveled to help guide the bottom edge of the base portion 26 into the opening 22.

FIG. 5 illustrates the storage tank 12 and support 10, after the tank 12 has been attached to the support 10. The sides of the opening 22 snuggly engage the base portion 26 of the tank 12 to retain the support 10 in place on the tank 12. In this arrangement, the extended body 20 provides lateral stability to the tank 12 that resists tipping by providing a wider base to support the tank 12. Preferably, the bottom surface 18 of the support 10 has a relatively high coefficient of friction, so that it will resist sliding on whatever resting surface 16 is placed. This increased friction can be achieved through a combination of choice of materials and texture.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show alternative embodiments of the support 10 shaped differently than the previously discussed embodiments. The support of FIG. 6 shows a generally square-shaped opening 22, but retains the overall octagon shape for the exterior of the support body 20. This would be well-suited for supporting a tank 12 that had a square-shaped base portion 26. FIG. 7 shows a support that has a circular opening 22 and a circular support body 20.

FIGS. 8-11 disclose a support 110 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The support 110 is well-suited for supporting either a water container 111 (FIG. 10) or an LP tank 112 (FIG. 11) at a user's discretion. As seen in FIG. 8, the support 110 has a body 120 with an outside perimeter in the shape of an octagon. An opening 122 is provided generally centrally within the body 120. The opening 122 need not extend completely through the body 120. The opening 122 should be sized and shaped such that the sidewalls 162 of the opening 122 provide a snug fit with the base portion 126 of an LP tank 112. The sidewalls 162 may be tapered at the bottom. It should be appreciated that the opening 122 need not be continuous as shown, could be formed by inward projections.

A flange 150 is provided radially outwardly from the opening 122. The flange 150 extends above the perimeter of the opening 120. As shown, the flange 150 is a continuous ridge completely enclosing the opening 120; however, the flange 150 could comprise a series of upward protections. Support webs 152 act as braces to provide strength to the flange 150. The support webs 152 may be triangular in cross-section as shown in FIG. 9. The support webs 152 span between the flange 150 and the top surface of the body 120. The flange 150 may be provided with a beveled or contoured upper surface 158 that matches the contour of an LP tank 112. A ledge 160 is provided between the opening 120 and the flange 150 as part of the body 120.

The body 120 may include recessed portions 154 formed in the top surface 155 of the body 120 in order to reduce weight and save material. Similar recessed portions 156 may be formed on the bottom surface. The top surface 155 may be provided with decorations, use instructions, brand name, trademark, or most advantageously, a team name or logo. The body itself may be colored solidly or in a pattern, and may be coated with a protected coating.

FIG. 10 shows the support 110 with the position of a portion of a supported water container 111 indicated in phantom lines. The water container 111 will rest on ledge 160 and be snuggly retained by flange 160 pressing against the sides of the water container 111. The weight of the water container 111 may be helpful in forcing the water container 111 into the portion surrounded by the flange 160. Once snuggly retained within the flange 160, the water container 111 will be supported against tipping by the relatively wide base of the body of the support 110. Additionally, the friction of the bottom surface of the support 110 will help resist slipping when the support 110 is placed on a flat upward facing surface.

FIG. 11 shows the support 110 with the position of a portion of a supported LP tank 112 shown in phantom lines. The base portion 126 of the LP tank 112 is inserted into the opening 120 and is retained snuggly in place by the sidewalls 162 of the opening 120. The curved bottom portion of the LP tank 112 is further supported and retained in place by the top beveled surface 158 of the flange 150.

The preferred material for forming the supports 10 and 110 is a material with some resiliency and tackiness. These properties allow for a snug fit between the sides of the opening 22 and the base portion 26 of the tank 12. They also provide the relatively high coefficient of friction for the bottom surface 18 of the support 10 to help prevent sliding of the support 10 and tank 12 under lateral forces that can occur during starting, stopping, and turning. The resiliency is also thought to absorb and dampen some of the lateral and tipping forces better than a rigid material.

In a preferred embodiment the chosen material is a thermoplastic elastomer that has been injection molded into the shape of the support 10. The elastomer is made from a blend of recycled rubber and plastic articles, such as automobile tires and milk jugs. One embodiment of the preferred material is sold under the trade name “eLastoprene” and is available from Atlas Polytech Inc. of Boucherville, Quebec, Canada. The products are formed by injecting the elastomer into a mold of the desired shape in a flowable form, allowing the product to cure into a solid, monolithic product, and then removing the support 10 from the mold.

The disclosed support will keep vessels safe and secure during transport and storage. When placed on the carpeted surface of a trunk or cargo area of a vehicle, it will stay put. It will resist tipping and sliding during turns, stops, or starts, while vessel is empty or full.

Although various representative embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subject matter set forth in the specification and claims. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention unless specifically set forth in the claims. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other.

In some instances, components are described with reference to “ends” having a particular characteristic and/or being connected with another part. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to components which terminate immediately beyond their points of connection with other parts. Thus, the term “end” should be interpreted broadly, in a manner that includes areas adjacent, rearward, forward of, or otherwise near the terminus of a particular element, link, component, part, member or the like. In methodologies directly or indirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are described in one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art will recognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, or eliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A support for stabilizing a vessel during storage and transport, the support comprising: a generally flat extended body having a top surface and a bottom surface; and an opening in said top surface for receiving a base portion of the vessel in a snug interference fit mating engagement.
 2. The support according to claim 1, further comprising a support flange extending upwardly from the top surface radially outwardly spaced from the opening.
 3. The support according to claim 2, wherein the support flange has a beveled top surface contoured to match a bottom portion of a vessel.
 4. The support according to claim 2 wherein the support flange will provide a mating interference fit with a bottom portion of water container.
 5. The support according to claim 1, wherein said support is a monolithic piece of molded thermoplastic elastomer. 